Neighbors Pull Woman From Fiery Crash In Derry Twp.

DERRY TOWNSHIP (KDKA) — Two neighbors who had never met raced to pull a woman from the fiery wreckage of a two-car crash in Derry Township, Westmoreland County.

A car and SUV collided on Route 982 Tuesday night. The woman driving the car became trapped after the vehicle burst into flames. The fire spread to the driver herself. Joe Smith and Doug Ellenberger told KDKA her hair, face and clothing were burning.

“Her hair was actually burning, her face and stuff. And we started to throw snow inside from him breaking the window out with his fire extinguisher,” said Ellenberger.

Smith added, “The fire extinguisher ran out. We were trying not to smother her. And there was some other guy with a broken arm that was helping out.”

Smith was able to smash out the car windows with the household extinguisher. Both men pulled the woman out before firefighters arrived. She was taken to the hospital, along with two people in the SUV.